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V ol. V

PITTSBURGH, PA., MARCH, 1884

No. 8

VIEW FROM THE TOWER
The “ lenten season” as observed especially by the Roman
Catholic and the Episcopal Churches, is upon us, and despite
the extravagant excesses practiced by these ceremonious
friends, the season calls before the memory of all thoughtful
saints pictures of the last days of Jesus. One thing is cer­
tain, the remembrance of that time and of our Lord’s suffer­
ings and death are not calculated to overthrow faith in the
ransom, nor to lead men to deny that the Lord bought them.
It was the custom of the early Church to celebrate the
Lord’s Supper and death on the anniversary of the same, every
yeaT, and the observance yet of “ Good Friday,” by some, is
what yet lingers of the original custom of the Church.
We can but recognize the appropriateness of celebrating any
event on its anniversary, and for several years past we have
enjoyed the privilege of thus commemorating the antitypical
l'assover Sacrifice—the Lamb of God which taketh away the
sin of the world.
The appropriateness of the time has always heightened the
interest and rendered it more impressively solemn and real.
As we partake of the emblems of his shed blood and broken
body, it impresses upon us the words and scenes of the first
Supper, and of the sacrifice for sins which it illustrated, and
gives us to realize more fully the value of the “ precious blood”
that cleanseth from all sin.
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of his death, as the Passover was a type of it. Jesus fulfilled the latter and instituted
the former in the same night in which he was betrayed, and
told his disciples that henceforth they should do this in re­
membrance of him— not now in remembrance of the typical
Lamb’s death and its results, but in remembrance of me— the
true Lamb of God whose sacrifice procures still a greater passover and deliverance for the Church of the first-born.

We purpose commemorating the Lord’s Supper on its anni­
versary this year also; and suggest to the saints everywhere
observance of the Master’s words— “ this do in remembrance
of me” (Luke 22:12). We can assure you it will be a blessed
season of communion to all the household of faith, and espe­
cially to those who are of the “ first born” class. Around
that hour the memories of the year will cluster while the heart
sings:
“ Sweet the moments rich in blessing
Which before the cross I spend,
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinners’ dying Friend.”
The Jewish “ Feast of Passover” commenced on the fifteenth
day of their month Nisan (answering this year to our April
9th) and lasted seven days. This we do not commemorate,
but the acts of a day preceding it— the killing of the lamb on
the 14th of Nisan, which beginning at 6 o’clock Tuesday eve­
ning April 8th, will end with 6 o’clock Wednesday evening,
April 9th, 1884.
The church at Pittsburgh will meet at 7:30 p. m. Tuesday
evening in the upper room of No. 101 Federal Street, Allegheny
City, and break the bread and drink the fruit of the vine in
remembrance of our Lord and Redeemer, and go forth remem­
bering Gethsemane, and Pilate’s court, and Herod’s soldiers and
Calvary, where the sacrifice was “ finished ” at 3 o’clock p. m.
following (April 9th) over eighteen hundred years ago.
For a more detailed account of our view of this matter
we refer you to the Tower of April last year. We trust to
hear of the enjoyment of this season by the ones and twos and
tens scattered everywhere, for “ even Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us” (1st Cor. 5 :7 ).

INTERESTING LETTERS
Pittsburgh, Texas, March 3, 1884.
Dear Bro. R ussell :— I am always thirsting for the litera­
ture of the T ower before it comes to me every month. Having
been excluded from the nominal Church about eight months
ago for endorsing the doctrines as advocated by you, my com­
fort is in reading the Bible with the helps published by your­
self.
As a young minister of the Baptist Church, my preaching
was very acceptable until I saw the glorious doctrine of resto­
ration, and preached it, when I was excluded from the Church
which I was serving. I pray earnestly, “ Thy kingdom come.”
May God bless you (as a part of the new mouthpiece, the old
being spewed out) in your effort to spread the glad tidings
of great joy which shall be to all people. I get a very clear
view of the glorious teachings of the shadowy service, believ­
ing its glories. “ The Tabernacle” tract is unsurpassed as an
explanation of the Bible on that subject. Still I have doubts
of my being among the priesthood— the way is so exceedingly
narrow. Yet I often rejoice when my doubts temporarily re­
move with joy inexpressible and full of glory. I think I love
my Bible better, since the light of the “ due time” begins to
shine on its sacred pages, than ever before.
My humble prayer and burning desire is that I may be
among that immortal band. I praise the name of God for
the possibility of such.
Yours in brotherly love,
------------------- .
Chicago, Ills.
Dear Friends :— Having picked up one of your little books
on the street, called “ Food for Thinking Christians,” and “ Why

Evil Was Permitted,” I became deeply interested in it. It
seems very good for thinking sinners as well as Christians.
I am a reformed man now, having been down in the gutter
many a time through intoxicating drink, though I have not
tasted any now for over a year. May God help me to keep from
it. Having just read the little book, I see that you will send
others, and by so doing you will oblige me. I would like to
lead a better life, and become a Christian. I cannot see fully
into the reality of religion, but may the Lord open my heart
and eyes to the great love he has for them that fear him. I
will try to make good use of anything you send. -------------.
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dear Sir and Brother:— I thank you for sending me the
Tower. It has given me much light and comfort. I presume
my time for reading will soon close, as I have entered my
eighty-fifth year; but if you will be kind enough still to send
it, I shall be much pleased, and will pray for God’s blessing
to attend you in your labors of love.
I would gladly circulate tracts or leaflets that you may
have on hand if sent, as I have not much to do at present,
and would like to work a little in the Lord’s vineyard while
here, by circulating that light which is so freely offered. If
you have any tracts on hand, I should like much to get a
few. I have lent and given away all that I had to parties
that will make good use of them, and there are others that
I should like to have read them. I always use caution “ not
to cast pearls before swine” to trample on or destroy.
I am, dear sir, yours truly, in the bonds of Christian love.

“THE UNION OF PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS”
We quote from The Catholic of this city, its reply to the
editorial under the above caption in the Century Magazine
which we noticed in our columns last month. Truly the gath­
ering storm is bringing to the Nominal Church fearful appre­
hensions of danger and utter wreck. The loud boastings of
both these hoary headed and decaying systems of error are
only the efforts of each to conceal their unrest and to guard
against what the fearful forbodings of some term “ a religious
panic.”
“ The Catholic” says:
Protestantism, which was and is, a revolt against the
divinely established authority of the Catholic Church, is seri­
ously alarmed bv the revolt of one of its own very legitimate
children— Materialism. Agnosticism, Infidelity, or whatever else
the thing may be known by— against itself. Having sown the
(1 -2 )

wind it is at last reaping the whirlwind. Thoughtful minds
are beginning to see and recognize the dimensions of the com­
ing storm, and are anxious to save themselves from its
strength and fury, by an alliance offensive and defensive, with
the Catholic Church. In the February number of the Century
Magazine, there is a very suggestive article in the editorial
department, discussing the possibilities and probabilities of
“ a reunion in the future between the Roman Catholic and
Protestant bodies.” There is a peculiar significance in the dis­
cussion of such a subject in a periodical, which though secular
in tone, yet has for its original editor, Dr. Holland, a strict
Calvinist; and its present chief owner and manager, Mr. Ros­
well Smith, we understand, is a prominent and pronounced
Presbyterian.
We can forgive the “ Century” writer, because of his ear­

[596]

M a r c h , 1884

Z I O N ’S

W A T C H

nestness and honesty of purpose, which can be traced from
the beginning to the end of the article, the many serious errors
into which his ignoiance of Catholic teaching and practice has
doubtless led him.
The four hundredth anniversary of Luther’s birth, and the
discussions that its celebration called forth, supply the writer
with a text. He says that the Lutheran celebration brought
to view the fact that “ the religious reformation of the last
four centuries has not been confined to the Church of the re­
formers. A constant reformation in discipline, if not in doc­
trine,” he thinks, “ has been going on in the Church assailed
by the German ex-monk.” We need hardly remind our readers
of the two very grave errors in this passage. There can be
no reform of doctrine in the Catholic Church. Catholic faith
is unchangeable, whilst a disciplinary reform is always in
order, not only during the last four centuries, but constantly,
from the very beginning.
But we are more interested, if possible, in the admissions
which the writer makes, and the present tendencies of Prot­
estantism that he notes, than in dealing with the well-mean­
ing mistakes he falls into on the Catholic side of the ques­
tion. This Protestant exponent shows that the bonds of sym­
pathy are now joining Catholics and Protestants to a degree,
which twenty-five years age could not have been anticipated.
He sees the growth of a feeling that these two bodies of Chris­
tians need to be united to resist the encroachments of modern
infidelity. Protestantism, twenty-five years ago, was boastful
and disdainful of the Catholic Church, today it is powerless
and helpless, when its own children— modern infidels— are
using against itself the very weapons which itself has been
using for the last four centuries against the Catholic Church.
This makes all the difference in the world, and our Protestant
friends are desirous, quite naturally so, of calling to their as­
sistance the aid, sorely needed, of their Catholic neighbors.
Hear the language of the “ Century” editor: “ As the conflict
with Materialism and Agnosticism has been waxing hotter
and hotter, it must have become evident to intelligent Prot­
estants that they have in the Roman Catholic theologians a
strong body of theologians with whom they ought to maintain
friendly relations. It is not Protestantism, nor the Papacy,

T O W E R

<2)

nor Calvinism, nor Trinitarianism, nor any other secondary
Christian dogma, that is now on trial,” proclaims the writer
further on, but “ whether there is such thing as religion—
whether there is a conscious God and a life beyond the grave,
and a free will, and a moral law.” For the last four cen­
turies, Catholic theologians and writers have been in vain
telling Protestants that their principles would land them ex­
actly here. The early so-called reformers denied free will, and
by their doctrine of justification by faith alone, practically
discarded a moral law.
The “ Century” readily acknowledges and pays a just
tribute to the exalted ethical standards of the Catholic Church,
and to its courage and consistency in maintaining them against
all efforts of compromise.— For instance, it openly lays down
that “ the Roman Catholic doctrine and practice respecting
divorce are much closer to the law of the New Testament
than those of the Protestant Churches have been.” It also
speaks of an “ earnest effort, at the present time, to bring the
practice of the Protestant Churches a little nearer to the
Catholic standard.” Luther and Henry of England made short
work of the New Testament law regulating the marriage con­
tract. And whilst leading Protestant ministers openly counte­
nance and recognize the looseness, not to say, shamelessness,
of modern divorce law and practice, there is little reason to
hope that the Protestant Churches will be brought any nearer
to the Catholic standard.
Whilst we fully recognize the kind disposition and earnest­
ness of the writer, who is, doubtless, alarmed by what he, in
common with many others, is daily witnessing in Protestantism
and its tendencies, it is simply folly to think of any feasible
plan of union between Catholics and Protestants, such as this
well-meaning writer would propose. The only union that can
be effected, is for our Protestant friends who are desirous to
escape from being submerged by the deluge of modern infidel­
ity, to seek safety in the divinely fashioned ark— the Catholic
Church. Against this stately, wonderfully, supernaturally con­
structed vessel, the winds and the waves, and the fierce storms
of nineteen eventful centuries have beaten in vain, because of
the abiding presence of Him therein, “ whom the winds and
the sea obey.”

ASSEMBLING TOGETHER
“ Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. 10:24, 25.
The necessity for assembling together for mutual edifica­
tion, encouragement and strengthening, has been very general­
ly acknowledged among Christians, yet we doubt if this most
desirable end is very frequently attained, because we think, in
most cases, God is not permitted to speak among them, or if
so, he is limited. The assemblings together most frequently
take the form of prayer and experience meetings, unless there
is one of the number who is able to preach, and then the
tendency is to depend upon that one to a greater extent than
is profitable. We think that in meetings of Christians, much
time should be given to the study of the Scriptures.
The writer attended one of these experience meetings
among those professing the higher life, where God was almost
shut out, and poor, weak humanity, ignorant of its weakness
as it always is, had abundant opportunity to boast itself. At
the beginning of the meeting, one text of Scripture was read,
the context of which all were ignorant of, and consequently
its true application could not be understood. The dear old
book was closed and reverently laid aside, and a prayer was
offered, after which, one after another told how he or she felt
and acted. One told how before rising in the morning she
received her morsel of food (a single text of Scripture) on
which she fed all day. How many do so— taking a text that
happens to be stored in memory, often interpreting it out
of all harmony with the context, because they fail to examine
it closely, taking a little crumb of comfort when the Lord has
spread his bountiful table and invited them to feast at it.
Over an hour passed, and the human spirit had magnified
itself greatly, while the Holy Spirit (Godlike mind) of the
“ new creatures” (for such we believe they were), was almost
quenched. A brother seemed to perceive that something was
wrong, and said, “ What these meetings want is more prayer,”
and then proceeded to pray for everything he could think of,
ignorant of the fact that he asked for many things in direct
opposition to God’s expressed will. And so the meeting closed

without attaining the object sought, because God was shut out.
Again it is the aim of some in their undue desire for har­
mony, to avoid the investigation of any subject which might
provoke controversy. This, we think, is manifestly wrong.
Shall we sell the truth to purchase harmony ? and are we so
puffed up as to be offended if God’s word should overthrow
our former convictions? Or shall we limit God to five or ten
minutes, and take the remainder of two hours to listen to
each others’ experiences, which in nine cases out of ten would
be better untold? Why not open the doors wide, and let the
blessed Master come in and lead our meetings?
It matters not whether there is any one learned or tal­
ented among you. Let each one bring his own Bible, paper
and pencil, and avail yourselves of as many helps in the way
of a Concordance, Em. Diaglott, old and new versions of the
New Testament, etc., as possible. Choose your subject: ask
for the Spirit’s guidance in the understanding of i t ; then read.
think, compare scripture with scripture, and you will assttiedly be guided into truth. “ And the truth shall make jou
free” — free from error, superstition, and the corruption of our
perverse nature, and the Holy Spirit (mind of God and
Christ) if entertained will liberate you from foimnlitv as
well as from self-exaltation.
Our prayers need not be long or vain repetitions of the
same thing, since we are not heard for our much speaking.
In few and simple wouls we can make known oui wants as
far as we can estimate them: but God has so much more to
tell us than we have to tell him. Let him speak much and
long and often through his Word. “ Sanctify them through
thy truth; thy word is truth,” was Jesus’ prayer; and his
admonition. “ Search the Scriptures, for these are they that
testify of me.” (John 17:17 and 5:39.) So will we learn to
delight ourselves in God’s Law: it will be our meditation by
night and by day. (Ps. 119-97.) So, also, will he work in
us to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Phil. 2-13 t
R. W.

[ 597]

THE DAY IS AT HAND
Poor, fainting spirit, still hold on thy way—
The dawn is near!
True, thou art weary; but yon brighter ray
Becomes more clear.
Bear up a little longer; wait for rest:
Yield not to slumber, though with toil oppressed.

The night of life is mournful, but look on—
The dawn is near!
Soon will earth’s shadowy scenes and forms be gone;
Yield not to fear!
The mountain’s summit will, ere long, be gained,
And the bright world of joy and peace attained.

“ Joyful through hope.” thy motto still must be—
The dawn is near!
What glories will that dawn unfold to thee!
Be of good cheer!
Gird up thy loins; bind sandals on thy feet:
The way is dark and long; the end is sweet.
— Selected.

WHEN WILL CHRIST COME?
DISCOURSE No. VI

In our last two discourses we think we proved scripturally
that our Lord’ s second coming will be of such a character that
at first it will not be recognized by the world. They will eat,
drink, build, marry, etc., as usual, and will not know that the
day of the Lord has come. Since bis presence is that of a
spiritual body invisible to human eyes, he cannot be discovered
by the sight of the eye. And to guard against the deceptions
of antichrist, Jesus warned the Church not to expect him in
any such way, saying, “ Wherefore, if they shall say unto you,
Behold he is in the desert; go not forth; behold he is in the
secret chamber, believe it not,” because he does not so come.
How important to bear in mind the manner of his coming,
as we considered it last Lord’s day.
A t the first advent he did meet with them in the secret
chamber and in the wilderness; he was then the Word made
flesh; he was then in the form of a servant for the suffering
of death. But at the second advent he comes in the glory
of his Father (a spiritual body) which no man hath seen,
nor can see. (1 Tim. 0:16.)
Jesus said, “ As the lightning, so shall the Son of man be
in his day,” (Matt. 24; 27; Luke 17:24). Man can see by
the destruction it leaves, where the lightning has been: so, in
the day of the Loid. men will come to recognize by the na­
tional trouble and overturning that the great day of his
wrath is come.
But while the world moves on in ignorance of the fact that
the Lord is again present, should we expect the Church of
Christ to be in the same darkness with reference to a fact of
such interest to them ? Certainly not. We should expect, how­
ever, that the great mass of those claiming to be of the Church,
yet unfaithful to God, would be under the same veil of igno­
rance that covers the world. Those who are faithfully watching
unto the “ sure word of prophecy” will know of his presence.
“ Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should come
upon you as a thief.” (1 Thes. 5:1-5).
We have already answered objections against inquiring into
the time of Christ’s coming; and merely remark now that
whereas neither Christ’s disciples, nor angels, “ neither the
Son,” knew of the time of his coming when Christ spoke
those words, yet, when “ he comes, with all his holy angels,”
those angels will know, Christ himself will know, and all of
the Church who are not in darkness, shall know. But, “ if
thou shalt not watch, thou shalt not know.” The Christian
who does not watch will be overtaken of that day just as the
world is overtaken.
The prophets foretold things which they did not themselves
understand; for instance, Daniel, having seen a vision reach­
ing away into the future, upon making inquiry as to the
time, was told: “ Go thy way, Daniel, for the words are closed
up and sealed till the time of the end;” then “ knowledge shall
be increased, and the wise shall understand, but none of the
wicked shall understand.”
(Dan. 12:9; 4:10) ; neither shall
the unwatching servant and the unwise Virgins, adds our Lord.
IMatt. 25). Peter speaks of this, and said that the prophets
inquired and searched diligently as to what time, or what man­
ner of time the Spirit did signify [t. e., whether the time
given them was literal or symbolic tim e], unto whom it was re­
vealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us [the Gospel
Church] they did minister. (1 Pet. 10, 12). They were used
as God’s mouth-pieces simply, and laid up treasures of wisdom
and knowledge which are developed and made manifest during
the Gospel age, a little at a time, as “ meat in due season” , by
the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, whose office is to
guide the faithful Church into all truth.
Our God is a God of order. Everything that God does is in
accordance with a definitely pre-arranged plan, and the times
and seasons are no insignificant part, of that plan. Notice
<i)

that Christ was born on time— “ In the fulness of time” God
sent his only-begotten Son. (Gal. 4 :4 ). Not before, nor after,
but just when the time was full. Christ’s first sermon was on
time. He came preaching and saying, “ The time is fulfilled
. . . . repent and believe the Gospel.”
(Mark 1 :15). “ In
due time, Christ died.” (Rom. 5 :6 ). He rose again the third
day, according to the Scriptures.”
(1 Cor. 15:4). During
his ministry they frequently sought to take him, but could not
“ because his hour was not yet come.” And just as surely
there is a due time for the Second Advent; and if now be the
due time, the Spirit will guide God’s faithful children into the
truth on this subject. First, however, as we shall go largely
to the Old Testament Scriptures, we stop for a moment to in­
quire: Have we anything to do with these Scriptures, or are
we to derive all our instruction from the New Testament? I
am almost ashamed to raise such a question, and would not,
but that I am satisfied that many Christian people hold this
opinion. One of the pastors of this city, a few days since, re
proved a member oi the flock for quoting as of any force a
statement of the prophets. For shame! O, for shame! ! To
what did Jesus refer, when he said, “ Search the Scriptures” ?
Surely to the Old Testament, since not one word of the New
was then written. What Scriptures did the Bereans search
daily? The Old Testament. What Scripture did Christ ex­
plain to the disciples going to Emmaus when their hearts
burned within them while he opened unto them the Scriptures?
The Old Testament. In which was “Apollos mighty,” and
of which did Paul say to Timothy, “ From a child thou hast
known the Holy Scriptures” ? And again, “ All Scripture, given
by inspiration of God, is profitable; that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good work.” And
one reason why some men of Cod are so imperfectly furnished
is that they lay aside more than two-thirds of God’s Word, the
Old Testament, which Paul says would be profitable to them.
So highly did Peter esteem the prophecy of the Old Testament,
that he considered it better evidence than his own sight; and
after telling of Christ’s transfiguration “ on the holy mount,”
and that it was given him as an evidence of the coming king­
dom of Christ, he says, (2 Pet. 1:19) “ We have a more sure
word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn.”
Peter corroborates Paul’s statement that it is profitable;
and informs us that it will continue to be useful “ until the
day dawn.” The Old Testament is a great treasure-house in
which God has locked up and sealed items of great interest
and value to his children, and the New Testament is the key
by which we gain access to them. Let us now examine what
the sure word of prophecy says on the time of Christ’s com­
ing. There are several prophetic claims to which I desire to
call your attention— one shows the length of the Gospel dis­
pensation; but not directly; it does not read right out, The
Gospel dispensation will close in A. D.— . No, that would not
have been “ sealed up” at all, and not only wise and watching,
but all could understand that without difficulty.
No, it is not told so, but while just as plain as that, yet
it is under cover, and you will see that it could not be under­
stood without the New Testament key.
God has linked together the history of the Jewish and
Gospel Churches by the peculiar tie of type and anti-type;
and this typical character of the Jewish dispensation was fre­
quently referred to by the Apostles under the direction of the
Holy Spirit.
From them we learn that it was typical in all its features
— its laws (Heb. 10:1), its ceremonies (Heb. 9 :9 ), its sac­
rifices (Heb. 10:11). its sacred days, its times and seasons
(Col. 2:16, 17), and also its duration, as we shall see.

[ 598]

M a r c h , 1884

Z I O N ’S

W A T C H

If God has thus, in the Jewish dispensation, given us an
exact pattern of the Gospel dispensation, that pattern is itself
a prophecy. And what a clear revelation of truth should it
be to us, who stand amid the closing scenes of the Gospel age,
when nearly all of that prophecy has passed into history! With
the keys furnished in the New Testament, the faithful student
may now clearly read the times and seasons indicated.
Paul shows that the blind, cast-off condition of Israel is to
continue until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in (Rom.
11; 25). Their casting off from God’s favor, and consequent
blindness, began at the end of the Jewish age, and will termin­
ate at the end of the Gospel age. So if we find the time of
returning favor to fleshly Israel clearly indicated, we may
know that the fulness of the Gentiles has been gathered in.
[Into what or where will be a question for future considera­
tion.] In other words, the end of the Gospel age will have
been reached.
We have already seen the teaching of the word of God to
be that in the next, commonly called the Millennial age, Israel
is to be restored, Jerusalem rebuilt and reinhabited, and that
the Jewish nation is to become the chief nation, and “ Jeru­
salem a praise in the whole earth.” When will this be ? Do
the prophets tell ’ Yes. The prophets teach that Israel, once
God’s specially favored people, who had “ much advantage every
way. to whom were committed the oracles [0 . T.] of God,”
would reject Christ, and, in consequence, would become out­
casts from God’s favor as a chastisement for their national
sin, and for the same length of time that they had had his
special favor; after which time they should again return to
God’s favor and forgiveness. Now let us briefly glance at their
history and then I will refer you to the prophecy which so
predicts.
The nation began its existence at the death of Jacob, in
Egypt. While he lived they were not counted a nation, but a
family, and in his dying blessing for the first time they are
called tribes. The promise of national blessing and favor was
given through Judah. “ The sceptre shall not depart from
Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh
[Christ] come.” This God fulfilled, and though he often chas­
tised them, and allowed them to go into captivity for their
sins; yet he always showed them favor, brought them back,
and preserved their national existence through Judah, as he
had promised, and did not utterly cast them off from him until
they had rejected and crucified the Lord of glory, a period of
1.845 years. Since that time, as they themselves say bitterly.
God has shown them no favor; they have been outcasts “ a re­
proach and a hissing among all people.” (Jer. 29:18). Since
their chastisement was to be of the same length, as the favor
previously shown, it will be 1,845 years. It began with the
crucifixion of Christ. A. D. 33. and the 1.845 years of their
punishment, consequently ended in 1878. But we must not ex­
pect too much in a day. As they were 37 years in falling na­
tionally— from A. D. 33, to A. D. 70, when their national
existence terminated: so their rising again to favor and na­
tional prominence will require the same length of time, and
will therefore not be complete until 37 years after 1878, or
until the close of 1914. We also find another and distinctly
separate line of prophecy (which we will give at another tim e),
teaching that they will not obtain full control of Palestine
until A. D. 1914, which gives a period of 37 years for their
rising, or a parallel to the time of their falling. Where is the
Scripture which proves that their chastisement is equal to the
favor that they once enjoyed ? you ask. Turn with me to Jer.
16-13-18 and read: “ Therefore [because of sins before men­
tioned], will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye
know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there ye shall serve
other gods [rulers] day and night; where I will not show you
favor.” This was not the Babylonian captivity, for Abraham
came from Ur of the Chaldees. Neither could the Syrian cap­
tivity he thus referred to, for Jacob was a Syrian (Deut.
2 6 :5 ), and this was to be “ a land that ye know not, neither do
ye nor your fathers.” This was to be their punishment: They
were to receive no favor from God, but were to be driven out
of their own land, and, as the next verse shows, were to be­
come exiles in every land, just as we now find them.
They have always looked back to their deliverance from
Egypt as a great and marvelous sign of God’s favor to them;
but their deliverance now soon to be consummated, will be so
much greater that it will quite eclipse the former one. Let us
read— “ Therefore, behold the days come, saith the Lord, that
it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth that brought up the
children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but the Lord
liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of
the North [Russia, where the greatest number of them are
found], and from all the lands whither He had driven them;
and I will bring them again into their land, that I gave unto

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(3 -4 )

their fathers; and first (before I so bring them back) I will
recompense their iniquity and their sin double” —verse 18.
The word here translated double is the Hebrew word mishneh
and signifies, a repetition. The repetition can refer to nothing
else than the time. It was not a repetition of the same method
of dealing with them; for he just states that he will deal dif­
ferently— he will cast them off and show them no favor, etc.
And it is now a fact of history that the time of their cast-off
condition has been an exact repetition in length of their time
of favor, that is 1,845 years ending in 1878. They had 1,845
years favor and 37 years fall. They have had 1,845 years with­
out favor, and will have 37 years of rising. But, some may
think we base a great deal upon that one prophetic statement,
and inquire, Are there other evidences? Yes, there are; but I
dare to trust to one statement, of one prophet; for he is a
mouthpiece of God, who cannot lie.
Let us hear Zechariah (9 :9 ), who will tell us the very day
they were cast off. Just five days before his crucifixion, Jesus
rode into Jerusalem on an ass in fulfillment of this prophecy.
“ Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just,
and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass and upon
a colt the foal of an ass.” Nationally, they did not receive
Him with shouts of rejoicing; but the multitude shouted,
Hosannah! For “ if these should hold their peace, the very
stones would cry out.” The prophecy demanded shouting and
must be fulfilled. “ Turn you to your stronghold, ye prisoners of
hope:” Christ was their stronghold, had they but received
Him; but they rejected Him, and therefore comes the denuncia­
tion. “ Even today do I declare that I will render double unto
thee.” [Literal— The other half.] This agrees with Jeremiah,
and tells us the very day the favor toward them ended. Yes,
says Paul, “ because of unbelief they were blinded.” Jesus wept
over them, and said “ If thou hadst known, even thou, at least
in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace, but now
they are hid from thine eyes.” This was their blindness. Then
he begins to foretell the trouble coming. (Luke 19:41-44).
But another prophet has a message on this subject— Isaiah
40:1. Here are the three principal prophets, all explaining to
us about Israel, but they take different standpoints of ob­
servation. Jeremiah says, looking down future, “ I will cast
you out,” etc. Zechariah’s standpoint of prophecy was beside
Jesus on the colt, and he says, “ Even today.” Isaiah takes
his stand away down here, where you and I live, after they
have had their equal time of punishment. Hear him: “ Com­
fort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God; speak ye com­
fortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her appointed
time [margin] is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned;
for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her
sins.”
“ Believest thou the prophets?” I do. And when Jeremiah
foretells that because of sin and iniquity they would have
double, and Isaiah that that double having been ended the sin
and iniquity is pardoned, I cannot help believing it. But let
us inquire whether 1878 brought any outward sign of God’s
returning favor? I answer yes. The fig tree, which was with­
ered up from the roots (Israel), is beginning to “ put forth
leaves.” The year 1878 witnessed an end of Turkish oppres­
sion in Palestine, and by the treaty of Berlin a Hebrew, as
Prime Minister of one of the greatest of nations, assumes its
protection and guarantees its peace. And recently the state­
ment is published that the Rothschilds, Sir Montefiore, and other
wealthy Hebrews, have arranged for the purchase and coloniza­
tion of Palestine. And Russian persecutions are now driving
many thither. Truly, favor seems to be returning.
But where is the measure of the Gospel dispensation? Paul
furnishes us the key for this in the text before mentioned
(Rom. 1 1:2 5 ): “ I would not, brethren, that ye should be
ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own
conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until
the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” — that is, Israel will re­
main blinded until the full company of the Gospel Church—the Bride, being taken out from the Gentiles for His name—
have been selected, or have come into covenant relation with
him, and thereby separated from the world. To express the
same thought differently: while the Jews were cast off as
a people for 1845 years, from A. D. 33 to A. D. 1878, was the
time appointed for the selecting of all who will be part of the
Bride of Christ.
But as favor continued to individual Israelites, after that
house as a whole was rejected, so after the rejection of the
Gospel house (the nominal Church) as a whole, special favor
to individual saints is still continued. The Apostles and early
disciples, the “ remnant” of Israel (Rom. 9:27) received the
increase of knowledge and high privileges then due to the
Gospel age, while all the rest of Israel were blind to them.

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Z I O N ’S

W A T C H

So here, the same class, the meek and faithful of the Gospel
house, receive the increase of knowledge due in the dawn of
the Millennial Age, and by means of this clear apprehension
of the truth are being completed and perfected for their place
in the glorious kingdom shortly to be made manifest.
Since the two houses of Israel—the Jewish and Gospel
houses— stand in relation to each other as type and anti-type,
let us notice some of the parallels:
The law was a shadow of good things to come, and in the
Gospel dispensation we find the substance which cast those
shadows. We must bear in mind also that the shadow is not
the substance, but that it has marked features of similarity.
The Jewish house was a house of servants— “ Moses was
faithful in all his house as a servant.” The Gospel house is a
house of sons— “ Christ as a son over his own house, whose
house are we.”
(Heb. 3:5, 6.) The founder of the typical
house was Jacob, surnamed Israel; the founder of the anti­
typical house was Christ, the true Israel of God. The typical
house was founded on the twelve sons of Jacob, the anti-typical
on the twelve Apostles.
In worship also they are pattern and reality. The pattern
had a tabernacle into which the typical High Priest went every
year to make a typical atonement. We have the true
tabernacle, into which the true High Priest has entered for
us. (Heb. 6:20.) And, as in due time the typical High Priest
came out to bless the people typically, so the real High Priest
will in due time come out to bless all the world.
There were under-priests there, who wore bonnets to indi­
cate that they were not the head, or High Priest, while Aaron,
their head, wore none. So we are told that the true Church,
the body or bride of Christ, is likewise a priesthood, and that
Christ Jesus is the head or High Priest of our profession.
(Heb. 3:1.)
As they offered typical sacrifices, so we may
offer up spiritual sacrifices, holy, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ. 1 Pet. 2:5.
They had circumcision of the flesh; we, says Paul, have
circumcision of the heart. (Rom. 2:29.) They had a temple
in which God’s presence was represented; and Paul tells us
that we, the Church, are built together a holy temple for the
indwelling of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:22.) In fact
everything that they had was a type of what we have on the
higher, spiritual plane.
Their dispensation ended with a harvest, in which harvest­
time Jesus was present in the flesh as Lord of the harvest, and
the faithful disciples who followed in his footprints were
privileged to be co-workers with him in reaping the fleshly
house and gathering the ripened grain into the Gospel garner
— into the privileged condition of the Gospel saints. In the
beginning of that harvest Jesus said to his disciples, “ Lift up
your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to
harvest. I send you to reap,” etc. John 4:35-38.
Just so the anti-typical or Gospel dispensation ends with a
harvest, at which time Jesus is again due to be present, not
now as then in the flesh, but in glory, a spiritual being, in­
visible to human eyes. Say not now that there are yet many
years and then cometh harvest; but, ye faithful children of
God, lift up your eyes and look on the fields now, for they
are white already to harvest. And every faithful disciple who
now follows in the Master’s footprints has the privilege now
of being a co-worker with him in reaping this harvest. Such
are the angels or messengers referred to in Matt. 13:39, who
are reaping under his direction. And he directs them through
the Word by opening their understanding to discern the times
and seasons there indicated, and the work to be accomplished
therein.
Their harvest was a period of seven years, beginning with
our Lord’s ministry; and up to the time of his death (a period
of three and a half years) special effort was made to enlighten

T O W E R

P it t s b u r g h , P s .

the Jewish house, as a whole, with reference to its high priv­
ilege. But as a people their ears were dull of hearing, and
they “ knew not the time of their visitation.” Though this was
true of that house as a whole, yet there were scattered indi­
viduals here and there among them who were ready to believe
and follow the Master as soon as the truth could be made clear
to them. To this class the remaining three and a half years
of harvest work was devoted. The sickle of truth presented to
them separated them from the rejected and blinded Jewish
house, and brought them under the Gospel dispensation of
favor.
This seven years is the “ seventieth week” of Danl. 9.
Seventy weeks ( symbolic time, weeks of years instead of days,)
or 490 years, were set apart or determined upon Daniel’s peo­
ple, the Jews. Sixty-nine of these reach to Messiah, the prince.
(Christ came as the Messiah at the time of his baptism, when
he began his ministry, being thirty years old.) “ In the midst
of the week [the seventieth] Messiah shall be cut off [die]
but not for himself.”
(“ He was wounded for our transgres­
sions.” ) But, though cut off, and though their Church was
left desolate, yet, as the prophet had predicted, “ He shall con­
firm the covenant [seventy weeks’ agreement] with many for
one week,” i. e., until the full limit of the promised seventy.
Accordingly, Jesus charges his disciples to “ begin at Jeru­
salem” with the Gospel message, and it was confined to the
Jews until the seventieth week ended— three and a half years
after Jesus’ death.
So the Gospel dispensation is the anti-type of all this. Its
harvest also is seven years, plus thirty-three, beginning in
1874, where another line of Scripture proves Christ’ s presence
to be due, and continuing seven years, in which the ripe wheat
is being garnered and separated from tares, and thirty-three
of consuming and removing the nominal system. The fullness
(the elect number and membership) of the Gospel Church was
due to come into covenant relation with God in 1878, when
Israel’s time of favor was due to begin; and yet, although the
nominal Church was then cast off, and that house left desolate,
the chosen vessels yet in that house must be separated and
gathered into the barn, a position of safety and security, above
the trouble which is coming on the Church nominal. That
favor, ending in the fall of 1881, found all true wheat sepa­
rated, at least in spirit, from the rejected, lukewarm, fallen,
nominal Church. And all such gathered into this separate
condition, will be ready to separate from it in name and per­
son as they discover this to be the Lord’s will.
The time of trouble coming on the Church nominal is for
the purpose of gathering out of his kingdom (Church) all
things that offend. (Matt. 13:41.) They shall be swept out
by the incoming flood of infidelity, overthrown by the winds
of false doctrine, and finally burnt up by the scathing re­
proach of the world when it comes to fully discover Babylon’s
hypocrisy. Blessed is the man who has built his house upon
the rock with the gold and silver and precious stones of truth.
The floods may come and the winds may blow and beat upon
that house, and the fire may test it, but it shall stand. Thus
shall long-established and corrupt systems, claiming to be the
Church of Christ, go down in complete wreck, and above its
ruins the real, the true and faithful Church— a “ little flock”
— shall with Christ their head establish the glorious reign of
righteousness.
If these things are so, we are living in an important time,
and upon our present decisions and actions the weighty in­
terests of our future hinge. It behooves us, then, to take
heed lest our hearts be overcharged with the cares of this life.
Let us lay aside every weight and run with patience. And see­
ing we look for such things, what manner of persons ought
we to be in all holy conversation and godliness— as the pros­
pective bride of Christ making herself ready.

HAS THE MASTER NEED OF MY SERVICE?
It is a part of the economy of God, as well as of all rightthinking men, to seek to accomplish desired ends with the
smallest possible outlay of expense. While in God, and in
all his perfect creatures, there is a beautiful balancing of this
principle with that of justice and benevolence, in fallen man
it has generally overleaped the bounds of love and justice.
But in the proper use of this principle of our nature, it is
right to inquire, Is there any use or necessity for this or that
course? Recognizing this principle, God does not call upon us
to do anything that is useless. Though we may not always be
able to discover the design of his commands, it is a sufficient
guarantee of their necessity and good to know that he com­
mands. If then, he has called us into his service, it is because

he has a definite purpose to accomplish through us. Since
there is actual service to be accomplished, and God has chosen
to use human instrumentalities in accomplishing it, there is
then actual need of faithful service, though God’s resources
are by no means exhausted when you or I refuse the privilege.
In that case the loss is ours, not his. When the toil and weari­
ness and sacrifice are ended, we will have no need to say, I
have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for naught.
Because there is need for actual service, we are exhorted
to be faithful, diligent, obedient servants, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, to make full proof of our own ministry,
to so invest our one or many talents as to secure the greatest
possible advantage to the Master’s cause. It was because

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, rch , 1884

Z I O N ’S

W A T C H

Paul and others of similar mould realized the necessity and
privilege of such service, that they so boldly undertook the
great work of stemming the popular tide, and proclaiming the
glorious Gospel at the risk of life and every earthly good.
Ah, says one, that is placing too high an estimate upon
human effort. God is able to accomplish his work if I never
touch it. Yes, that is very true; but, if you do not touch
it, some one else will, and you will lose the privilege. Did
you ever think of that? Beware! Let no man take thy
crown! 0, how easy it is just here to fall short of over­
coming!
One will say, Well, I have only this one talent, and I have
need to use that for myself. It would not bring a very large
interest if I should invest it for the Lord. If, like some other
brother or sister, I had many talents, it would seem to be of
some use, and I would heartily invest nearly all for the Lord.
Another, with more talents, will cheerfully render much, but
hold back part of that which he covenanted to give, which was

T O W E R

<4-s>

his all. Ah, say they, the Lord has no need of that little; he
is rich, and can accomplish his work without it. Well, that is
true with reference to others, but without your full and com­
plete sacrifice of all, he cannot accomplish the work of bring­
ing you to the glory to which you are called. And so far as
others are concerned, he will raise up some other human
agency through which to minister to them.
It is his purpose to accomplish the great work in hand,
largely through human agents, under the direction and lead­
ing of his Spirit. And if one human instrument withdraws
from the service, another will fill the gap. Whether the Lord
could have accomplished his work through other means is not
for us to surmise; but since this is the method that infinite
wisdom chose, who are we that we could devise a better? Let
us see to it then that we work in harmony with his plans,
faithfully utilizing every available talent in his service.
“ Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall
find him so doing.” Matt. 24:46.
Mrs . C. T. R.

“SAY YE NOT, A CONFEDERACY”
I sa . 8:9-20
look to the Word of God for instruction. And that instruc­
A confederacy is a league or covenant, a compact or alliance
for mutual support or common action. “ In union there is
tion is given plainly and clearly— “ For,” says the Prophet,
taking his standpoint down here in our time, “ the Lord spake
strength,” is everywhere the expressed sentiment of today.
Confederacy— Union— is the watchword in civil, social, and
thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I
religious circles. This sentiment now so common, has grown
should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not,
A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A
out of the felt necessities of the times, and the fear of coming
trouble and danger.
confederacy; neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid. Sanctify
the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let
The prince of this world (John 12:31) sees the approach­
ing storm. He believes and trembles at the sure word of
him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary.”
prophecy which indicates the overthrow of his power; but
Thus instructed we should have nothing to do with these
with characteristic genius, energy and presumption, he arrays
confederacies either civil, social or religious. We are to walk
separate from all these, joined only to the Lord and loyal to
himself to oppose, and if possible to thwart the plans of the
the kingdom of God as yet unrecognized by the world. We
Almighty. At present and for some time past he has been
are to have no confederacy, no union with any other. The
actively engaged in planning, organizing and arranging his
Lord’s Prophet speaks most emphatically concerning the out­
unconscious forces. We are glad in one sense to say uncon­
come of all these confederacies.
scious, for to be the conscious and willing servants of Satan
would imply a fearful state of depravity. And yet we would
Thus we read (Isa. 8:9, 10) “ Associate yourselves, O, ye
that men were not so blinded as to be unconsciously led by
people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye
their wily and deceptive foe.
of far countries; gird yourselves and ye shall be broken in
pieces. Take counsel together and it shall come to naught;
Leagues or confederacies are forming all over the world.
speak the word and it shall not stand.” How plain and forci­
The kingdoms are forming alliances for mutual protection
ble these expressions! They need no comment; and only the
against the increasing independence and power of their sub­
unbelief in the Word of God— the spirit of infidelity— in the
jects, while communism or socialism is secretly plotting and
church nominal, prevents them from understanding their im­
forming its world-wide confederacy to resist enthroned power.
port.
Capitalists are forming alliances with each other to protect
In the Lord of hosts alone is our sanctuary, our defence,
their interests, while the laboring classes are also combining
and all who would walk with him must walk separate from
their forces for self-protection.
the world. Those who thus walk with the Lord are so led
In religious circles we see the same policy pursued. The
into the knowledge of his plans, that those things which
two great classes most bitterly opposed to one another are
so-called Oithodoxy and Infidelity. Each is struggling for
cause fear and trembling to others, are to them but the in­
dications of the development of God’s glorious plan.
supremacy and power. On the orthodox side are Papacy and
“ Behind his frowning province
Protestantism, while the non-religious world stands in opposi­
They see his smiling face.”
tion. All the various sects of Protestantism have formed a
While the Lord is thus our defence and rejoicing, he is a
confederacy— “ The Evangelical Alliance”— for mutual support
stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to both the houses
and common action, agreeing to almost entirely ignore doctrine,
of Israel— Israel after the flesh and the nominal Gospel church,
and to preach simply morality, and the necessity of union
“ And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken,
with them, in order to be saved. And now friendly relations
and be snared, and be taken.” They stumble and fall over the
and proposals of union are beginning to be thought of even
truth and are taken in the snare of the adversary, their faith
between Papacy and Protestantism. The latter is losing all
shattered and broken; and the great flood of infidelity will
«ight of doctrine and sees no special hindrance to union in a
engulf the church nominal.
lower standard of morality, while the former is not slow to
speak of itself as one of the Christian denominations, and of
But the prophet continues, “ Bind up the testimony, seal
the law among my disciples.” This is equivalent to Daniel’s
others as their “ Methodist and Presbyterian friends, etc.,”
prophecy. “ The wise shall understand” (Dan. 12:10) ; and
while both agree and unite in branding as Infidel all who op­
pose their system, no matter how firmly their faith may be
David’s— “ They shall walk O Lord in the light of thy counte­
rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Infidels are also
nance” (Psa. 89:15) ; and Paul’s— “ Ye brethren are not in dark­
uniting forming liberal leagues, and banding themselves to­
ness.”
(1 Thes. 5:4.) Yes, to those consecrated ones who
gether to resist superstition and to advocate morality and
walk with God separate from the world and worldly alliances,
benevolence on a basis of common sense and expediency.
the law and the testimony is precious— a constantly unfold­
While all this seems expedient and necessary to these
ing treasuie-house of blessed promises, inspiring such with
various classes in the world, while human reason says, Surely
glorious and blessed hopes which dispel all fearful apprehen­
in Union there is strength, shall we as Christians who are by
sions. But it is bound up and sealed among these, and none
of the unfaithful shall understand their glorious import.
no means less interested in the final issues than others, act
contrary to such reason, and battle singly and alone with the
“ Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
mighty powers of darkness? In this as in all matters, we
Mrs . C. T. R.
Clarke says in his comment on 1 Cor. 15: “ One remark
I cannot help making; the doctrine of the resurrection appears
to have been thought of much more consequence among the
primitive Christians than it is now!” How is this? The
apostles were continually insisting on it, and exciting the fol­
lowers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through

it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention i t '
So the apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed;
so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doc­
trine in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is
not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is
treated with more neglect.— Sel.

[ 60 1]

NO MAN BUYETH THEIR MERCHANDISE ANY MORE

KEV. 18:2
There are already evidences of consternation and forbodThe Rev. Wm. Lloyd in a sermon (which we quote below)
ings of disaster in the nominal Church, because of the gen­
preached on the same day and published in the New York
eral apathy and indifference of her membership and the falling
Herald, Feb. 4, takes a different and wider view of the situa­
off of attendance at her services. We hear reports far reach­
tion: he regards, we think truthfully, the misrepresentation
ing of flocks without pastors, and pastors with rapidly dimin­
or malrepresentation of God in the horrible dogmatic theology
ishing flocks, and this state of things exists not only in this
of the dark ages, as the chief cause of all that is now transpir­
country, but also in Europe and elsewhere, as the following
ing within the walls of that “ great city, Babylon.”
clipping from the New York Herald of January 6th will show:
HINDBANCES TO OHBISTIANITY

PASTOBS WANTED

'‘Much is printed in the religious newspapers on the other
side of the Atlantic regarding the scarcity of ministers in the
United States and Canada. It appears that the disease com­
plained of— pastorless flocks— is not confined to this continent
alone. From a recent publication giving some religious
statistics for France it is gathered that not less than 60,000
Protestants— nearly one-tenth of the whole Protestant popula­
tion of the country— belong to churches which are without pas­
tors. One of their churches has been without regular pastoral
superintendence for twelve years. Eighteen churches have been
deprived of their pastors during the year just ended. There is
surely room for improvement here.”
Not many months ago it was stated in the W atch Toweb,
as quoted from some other publication, that the Presbyterian
Church was 500 ministers short, and from the Cleveland
Leader of Oct. 25, 1883, we quote the following report of the
P. E. Conference: “ There are now in the United States 48
dioceses and 15 missionary jurisdictions, 67 bishops, 2,500
other clergy', 3,000 organized parishes, and more than 353,000
communicants: the repoit referred to the inadequate number
ot candidates for holy orders.” This report shows the num­
ber of bishops to exceed the number of dioceses and missionaiy jurisdictions, while the number of pastors to parishes
shows a deficiency of at least five hundred.
That there has been a much larger decrease in membership
and attendance at services, we believe, but these cannot be
arrived at by figures. Observation, however, and the state­
ments of ministers and others go far to prove it to be in a
very demoralized condition. The Rev. Dr. Collyer evidently
thinks we are on the verge of a religious panic. We quote
from his sermon preached on Feb. 3d, and published in the
New York Herald of Feb. 4:
PANICS IN RELIGION AND LITE

Rev. Dr. Collyer on the harm done by faithless men in the
Church
“ I notice,” said the Rev. Dr. Collyer, in his sermon yester­
day morning in the Church of the Messiah, “ that when I talk
with those who watch the world’s great markets, they say that
when there is an e\er growing fever in the centers of business,
if this continues we are going to have a panic. And I answer
•God forbid,’ for I know of but few things in this world and
life of ours so cruel and ruthless as a panic, or that take the
manhood so completely out qf men, leaving only a mob of
poltroons and monsters. It makes no matter what form the
evil and ugly thing may take, in a public hall or a theater, or
in a church where men go to worship God, or in Wall street;
and it is no matter what our conduct may have been down to
the day when we were confronted in a moment by this last and
most terrible test of our manhood. If we have lost on that
day the quality Herbert Spencer insists on as one of the
choicest blessings we can possess— ‘the supremacy of self-con­
trol’— it is all over with us the rest of our lives.
“ I notice that my brethren in their conferences deplore the
deadness in their churches. I do not wonder at this, but I do
wonder a little that they should even by inference lay the
blame on God and talk sometimes as if they believed with
the priests of Baal that he was asleep in his heavens or had
gone on a journey. Because if they only look deeper they will
see that the whole trouble lies with the Christians themselves.
I venture to observe, that with no mean spirit, God knows,
that the most cruel and ruthless blows ever struck against
our common faith have been made, not by men like Robert
Ingersoll, but by deacons of good standing in their churches,
and prominent persons in Christian associations. Where men
1 will not name do things I will not name under the mask of
leligion—the safest mask I know' of— it is no wonder so
many should go apait and say, if this is the fruit I do not be­
lieve in the tree. No wonder that so many should leave the
churches and that we should have what we may call a re­
ligious panic. And when this panic occurs no words of mine
or of any one else can estimate the damage it does to the
world: for it meaYis that men throw aside all religion, all
morality, all that is really precious in this life. But such
panics and desertions from religion will invariably take place
when we see unworthy men who have no real religious life in
them awume the high places in Christian councils.’’
<S)

Dogmatic theology driving people out of the Church and pre­
venting its groicth
“Rev. Wm. Lloyd, in the pulpit of the Central Congrega­
tional church, spoke with more than his ordinary vigor. His
congregation was a large one, for it had been announced that
the pastor was to talk very plainly upon the position of the
Church and its relation to the public at large. Christianity,
he declared, had not made the progress which it ought to have
shown. Today, after nearly twenty centuries of existence, the
Christian Church had failed to make more than the slightest
impression upon the world. The vast majority of the in­
habitants of the globe were sti angers to it, and even in coun­
tries where Christ was officially recognized fully seven-eighths
of the people were not connected with the Christian Church.
The intellectual and cultured classes had withdrawn almost
wholly from the Church, and those who kept without its pale
were not people to whose immoral habits and tendencies the
teachings of the gospel were obnoxious, but people of the most
blameless lives. These people refused to accept the assertion of
the Church that Christ was really the Son of God, and that
through Him there was salvation. They accepted the teach­
ings of morality, but rejected all that was of real pith in fix­
ing the divinity of our God and Saviour. The thinkers of
the age, here and abroad, have in almost every instance held
to these skeptical views, and now, in place of writing their
views only for the few who read books of philosophy and
obstruct thinking, these thoughts were embodied in the popular
novel and through the current works of fiction strongly put
and attractively worded. There is no failure of Christianity
in itself, but there is a failure of Christianity to get a secure
hold upon the popular heart and become a guide and mentor
in the daily life of the people.
“In conclusion Rev. Mr. Lloyd considered the causes which
had brought about this state of affairs. They were, he said, to
be found within the Church itself. God had been malrepresented. In place of the forgiving Father for all, he had been
held up in the frightful dogmatic theology of the past cen­
turies as a Creator of countless millions of human beings who
were from birth doomed to an eternity of suffering and woe.
Christianity had suffered, too, from the secularization of the
Church and from Church quarrels. One such dispute did more
to hinder the progress of Christianity than a thousand skep­
tical tracts scattered abroad over the land.”
Infidelity, skepticism and apathy to religion are but natural
results of the bad representation of God by the nominal
Church, notwithstanding that God has little by little, “ line
upon line,” made known his true character as exemplified in
a great and grand plan for the redemption of all his human
creatures from the consequences of Adam’s transgression. The
different sects, Protestant and Romanist, have so distorted and
falsified it at every stage that God, whom they say is all-wise,
is made to appear unwise; and, though they proclaim him a
God of love, they make his acts appear those of a cruel and
vindictive monster, to be feared rather than to be loved.
This, together with the gathering unto her, as into a cage,
every “ unclean and hateful bird,” and the love for and con­
formity to the world of her members, in church matters and
in social life, have caused the Lord to spue her out of his
mouth, and to leave her desolate. She is unfit to be any
longer his mouth-piece. In her conformity to the world, and
departure from the narrow way, she has sought out many in­
ventions— many questionable modes for raising money, osten­
sibly to pay the Lord’s bills, but really to gratify worldly
pride in erecting costly edifices, fine organs, and in general
display. Her ministers delight in high-sounding titles, con­
trary to the express command of Him who only is the Head of
the Church— “ Neither be ye called masters, for one is your
master, even Christ,” Had these men whose significant re­
marks we have quoted, taken heed unto the words of the
Master, they would have been able to discern the signs of the
times, and would not be walking now as blind men. “ They
shall look unto the earth and behold trouble and darkness,
dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.”
(Isa. 8:22.) “ And he shall be for a sanctuary [to the sheep
that hear his voice], but for a stone of stumbling and rock of
offence to both the houses [Jewish and Gospel] of Israel.”
(Verse 14.)

[602]

M a r c h , 1884

Z I O N ’S

WATCH

Jesus said the tares, the children of the wicked one, and
the wheat, the children of the kingdom, would grow together
until the harvest, and he explained that the harvest is the end
of the age— consummation of the age (Revised version). And
Paul says: “ In the last days perilous times shall come; for
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
. . . . high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of
God, having a form of godliness but denying the power; . . . .
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 1:5-13.) And again he says,
“ The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,
but will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears,” i. e.,
teachers taking pleasure in hearing the praise of men.
Peter, referring to this same time, says, “ And there shall
come in the last days scoffers, in scoffing walking after their
own lusts, and saying, Where is promise of his presence?” (2
Peter 3:4, Sinaiatic MS.)
We have here the testimony of
Jesus, Paul and Peter as to what would be the condition of
the nominal Church in the harvest, or last days, and we find
this inspired testimony to exactly correspond with its present
condition. And added to this we have the words of Jesus
(Matt. 24:14) literally fulfilled now: “ This gospel of the king­
dom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all

TOWER

1 5 -0

nations then shall the end come,” i. e., the end of the Gospel
age. Every nation under heaven has heard the Gospel, and it
was so declared by the Bible societies as far back as 1866.
That the nations have not received the Gospel testimony is
true, but witnessing to nations is not-witnessing to individuals
— not one in a thousand have heard, and most of those who
have heard have not accepted it.
The nominal Church, in looking for the conversion of the
world before Jesus comes, is totally at variance with the
Scriptures. This falsification of the truth, and adulteration of
that which should be the children’s meat, has brought her to
her present condition of barrenness and confusion. “ Babvlon
the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of
devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every
unclean and hateful bird . . . . The merchants f symbolic—
the clergy] of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for
rshortly] no man buyeth their merchandise any more: . . . .
the light of a candle [lamp—the Word] shall shine no more
at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom [Jesus] and
of the bride Tthe Lamb’s wife] shall be heard no more at all
in thee.” Rev. 18: 2, 11. 23. These are not our words, but
God’ s denunciation.—the final doom of a false system.
S. O. Bluxdex

LOST AND SAVED
“ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” — L uki 10:10.
Jesus would thus save the lost? However crude and indefinite
Nearly two thousand years ago Jesus, then present, af­
the ideas of the Jews and the early disciples at first were
firmed this to be his mission; but as yet no visible evidence of
concerning the promised salvation, they had learned both
its accomplishment appears. The world moves on in its down­
from the prophets and from Jesus’ teaching, that it would
ward course now, as then. Sin and misery triumph still, and
be accomplished when the kingdom of God should come. And
century after century plunges successive generations into
when Jesus stated that he had now come to save the lost,
death. Have we failed to understand the import of the
they at once concluded that the kingdom of God should im­
Master’s words? or has he been unable to accomplish his pur­
mediately appear.
pose? or may it be that his purpose is so far-reaching as to
be of future fulfillment? With these queries in view, let us
Because they had drawn this inference, and, to correct
consider the subject before us.
their false impression, Jesus spoke a certain parable, the im­
port of which was, that he must first go away and receive for
The words lost and saved have a common significance
known to all: A thing lost is a thing once possessed, and a
liimself the kingdom, and return; and that they, in the mean­
thing saved is a thing once possessed and then lost and finally
time, should, as faithful servants, occupy till lie would come,
using the talents entrusted to them according to his directions,
recovered. Jesus said the thing he came to save was the
and in the interest of his cause and of his coming kingdom,
thing that men had lost; and the implication is, that since he
patiently waiting for their reward at his coming.
had come to save the thing lost, men were unable to save it
for themselves, which experience and many scriptures clearly
But Jesus implied that in some sense he came at that
time, to save the lost— “ The Son of Man is come,” etc. And
prove. Now if we can determine just what man lost, we will
in one sense it was true, for he then purchased them with his
know just what Jesus came to save. Man could not lose what
own precious blood, and though not yet liberated from the
he never had. Adam, who stood as the representative of our
race, had a perfect human organism, and a right to everlasting
prison of death, they may be truly reckoned as saved ever since
their ransom was paid, for their raising out of death was from
continuance of life, on condition of obedience to God. He was
that moment made sure. Just as you might say of a pardoned
privileged to enjoy all the delights of his Eden home, and the
criminal that he is a saved man, although even he himself
communion and blessings of G od; in short, all the privileges
mav not yet know of his pardon nor have yet experienced a
that everlasting life under perfect human conditions is capable
release.
of enjoying and looking forward to.
Though no one is actually saved now. yet the Scripture*
All this Adam lost through sin, both for himself and his
speak of believers as now saved by hope, that is. by accepting
posterity. Home, happiness, communion with God, health,
of God’s promises as unquestionably sure, they may reckon
and life itself, were lost. Consequently, mankind lies in utter
themselves as already fully saved; not as merely awakened
wreck and ruin, dead and dying. In having lost his right to
from death, but as saved from the last vestige of death and
life he fell under the dominion of death, whose successive steps
sin— as made perfect. “ We are saved by hope; but hope that
of misery, depravity, sickness and pain, end in total extinc­
is seen is not hope, for what a men seetli why doth lie yet
tion of being, from which he can never recover himself.
hope for?” We do not see our salvation yet. except by faith.
Jesus came then to save and restore that which was lost;
“ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience
to restore man to his original (human) perfection, and to com­
wait for it.”
(Rom 8 24. 25.) Our hope and faith Mould
munion with God, to give him back his paradise restored, and
indeed be vain unless salvation means much more than we now
all the pleasing prospects of future blessings that accumulat­
enjoy.
ing ages can bestow, and that the powers of perfect humanity
The Apostle’s statement that “ God is the Saviour of all
will be capable of enjoying. What! does some one say, Is so
men, especially of those that [nowl believe.” and that God
much implied in those words of our Lord? Yes; this is one
“ will hare all men to he sa\od and come to a knowledge of
way in which our Lord foretold the restitution of all things.
the truth,” as well as many other sciipture*. prove to us that
All this is implied in the word saved. Think of it; could the
all men are to be saved by Christ fiom the degradation, misery
words mean less than this? Certainly not; and, from this
and death now upon all through Adam's disobedience. And yet
and many other scriptures, we have learned to trust in the liv­
they show us two classes of saved ones— all mankind and the
ing God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that
Church. While all are saved, one class is spcciallu saved.
believe. (1 Tim. 4 :1 0 ). There is a special salvation for some,
That is, by special arrangement, some (all believers of the
as well as a general salvation for all men, as Paul here in­
gospel age) are reckoned saved in season to run for the prize
timates, but we are not considering the special salvation now.
offered during this age. One class i« not more saved than the
In the above text Jesus was speaking of the general salva­
other: both the Church and the world are and will be com­
tion of all men— the saving of that which was lost. For God
pletely saved from sin and its penalty : and the mass of the
“ will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowl­
world will realize this in due time in their restoration to per­
edge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2 :4 ). When men are actually
fect human life, while those reckoned saved now. as though
saved, their restored existence will be as at first, dependent on
they had already received the perfect human life, are privileged
obedience for its continuance, which obedience will be easy and
to relinquish their new claim and title to it, presenting it as a
productive of constant happiness when evil and temptation are
sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable to him when offered in
fully removed, and the great deceiver and tempter is bound and
the acceptable time (the gospel aue). And being thus sacrificed
finally destroyed, and when the law of God is written in their
with Christ, they will be privileged to partake with him of a
hearts. (Jer. 31:33).
new nature. (2 Pet. 1:4.) These will receive glory, honor
But, we might inquire, when does our text indicate that
[ 60 3]

(6)

Z I O N ’S

W A T C H

anil immortality— the divine nature; while the world in gen­
eral will receive the glory, honor and blessedness of the per­
fect human nature, which is an image of the divine. (Gen.
1:27.) The former class is thus specially saved, severely dis­
ciplined and highly exalted that through them the blessings
of restitution may flow to all the world when God’s due time
shall come.
We see, then, that while the full import of our Lord’s
words has not been understood by many, and while many be­
lieve that he is unable to save the lost as he promised to do,
the fact is that his plan was so far-reaching that short­
sighted, dying men could not measure or comprehend it. As
now seen, the truth uttered in those few words required nearly
three thousand years for its full accomplishment. At his first
advent Jesus gave himself a ransom to save all (1 Tim. 2 :6 ) ;
during the centuries since, he has been developing the class
who have in this time followed him in sacrifice, and who are
to share with him in the work of saving or restoring all things,
and within the coming thousand years the work of saving men
will be completed. "If,” then, “ when we were enemies we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being
reconciled we shall be saved by his life.” (Rom. 5:10.)
Because in God’s order men could only be saved by a pay­
ment of their penalty which would be the basis of their recon­
ciliation and atonement with God, therefore, as a means to an
end, we see that Jesus’s mission at his first advent was to
save in the sense of redeeming, while his second advent will
complete the work by restoring to perfection all the redeemed
— all for whom Christ died, and by the grace of God he tasted
death [sin’s penalty] for every man. (Heb. 2:9.)
There is one other thought of special importance in this
text. It is that the Son of Man came to seek that which was
lost. Now we inquire, Is there any evidence of very earnest
seeking of lost ones on the part of our Lord? Some would
think not. All men were lost, and this text implies, while
John 12:47 clearly declares his purpose to save all; but he
said, “ I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.” (Matt. 15:24.) He did not seek out any of the lost
Gentiles, and charged his disciples not to do so for some years.
But Jesus did seek out a certain class— the meek—who were
waiting for the promised salvation; and it was his purpose to
begin with Jerusalem, to save such as would believe, and to
give to those of the seed of Abraham who believed, the first
offer of the high calling. And during the centuries since, he
has only been seeking out and saving (reckoning saved) the
same class (the meek) among the Gentiles, and making to
such believing ones the same offer of the divine nature— a
heavenly calling.
But a grander time of seeking is yet to come, for all the
millions that are completely lost in death are yet to be sought
out and saved. And where shall they be found? Notwith­
standing the theories of men to the contrary, the Scriptures
plainly teach that in death man’s being is dissolved, that he is
destroyed, blotted out of existence, that he is nowhere to be
found. And with this fact in mind we might inquire with the
Prophet Job, “ If a man die shall he live again ?” With men
such a thing seems quite impossible, but “ Why should it be
thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?”
1Acts 26:8.) He that was able to create is also able to re­
create those once completely destroyed. And through the
Prophet Isaiah the Lord speaks of the restitution as a new
creation, saying, “ Behold, I create new heavens and a new
earth” — not the physical earth, for that abideth forever—but
the world of mankind is to be re-created. And the Lord says:
“ Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.” (Isa.
65-17.18.) That the restored or re-created being will recog­
nize himself and also his neighbors of former acquaintaince, is
unquestionably proven by many scriptures (Ezek. 16:61, 63;
20:43; 36:31; Zech. 12:10; Psa. 22:27), and illustrated in
the few cases where the dead have been measurably restored,
as Lazarus and others.
Job answers our question very clearly when he says (chap.
7 :2 1 ), “ Now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek
me in the morning, [the morning of the resurrection or restitu­
tion] but i shall not be”— I shall be destroyed, blotted out
of existence. But nevertheless, though thus destroyed, he says,
“ Thou shalt call and I will answer thee.” (Job. 14:15.) Like
Lazarus, at the call of Jesus, earth’s dead millions shall again
spring into existence. David declares the same truth when he
says, “ Thou turnest man to destruction and [then] sayest,
return, ye children of men.” And with him we must say,
“ Bless the Lord, 0 my soul; who redeemeth thy life from
destruction I” (Psa. 90:3; 103; 1, 4.) O that all the world
could now realize the glorious import of those words of our
Lord. “ The Ron of man is come to seek and to save that which
was lost.” It was a glorious truth to realize at his first ad­

T O W E R

P ittsburgh , P a .

vent, that the plan of God had so far developed that the
promised Messiah had actually come to save men by the sac­
rifice of himself. But it is still more glorious now to realize
that our Lord has come the second time, to apply the benefits
of that sacrifice, to claim and restore his purchased posses­
sions, to actually and completely save that which was lost.
While we have thus stated what we believe to be the Scrip­
ture teaching concerning the salvation of men, we would yet
more particularly answer the inquiry of some—
W H AT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED.

Perhaps the reader already sees that he has nothing to do.
All that was necessary to procure your salvation was done
long ago, before you were bom ; and in consequence of the re­
demption provided, all mankind, whether they ever knew it,
or believed it or not, are going to be brought to life again,
are going to be saved from the Adamic death. God will have
all men to be saved; and though they may never have known
him before, to be then brought to a knowledge of the truth.
Well, we seem to hear some one say, that is a strange an­
swer. I thought you would tell me to pray or to get some
Christian friends to pray for me, that I must try to realize
that I am the chief of sinners, that I must kneel at a
mourner’s bench, or something of the kind, but you have not
even told me to repent or believe. You simply say that I am
saved, and that I have had, and can have nothing to do with it.
No, friend, we do not say that you are saved, but that
you will be saved; and that you have had, and can have
nothing to do with the means which procured your salva­
tion. It is a free gift of God, in consequence of which you will
be saved in the coming age; but you are in no sense saved
now unless you have come to believe in Christ as your Re­
deemer. If you do believe this Bible truth, then you may
through that faith reckon yourself as saved now— saved by
hope; but you must ivait for the actual salvation until God’s
due time. (2 Thes. 3:5.) Of course faith in and reliance on
Christ as your Redeemer implies a realization of your need of
a Redeemer, and a repentance and turning from sin. You may
have been one of the very chief of sinners, or you may not
have been so bad as some others; however, you were bad
enough to merit the just condemnation of God’s law, for he
who offends in one point is guilty of all. (James 2:10.) He
is a violator of the law, and as a consequence is under con­
demnation. If you have always lived just as morally and as
carefully as you could, you have fallen short of perfection, be­
cause of the weakness of your nature, inherited through
Adam’s fall. (Rom. 5:12.)
But though nothing that you
have done or could do could save you from death, that which
Christ has done procures your release from it.
Paul said, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt be saved.” This is the condition on which we receive
the reckoned salvation now, and it will also be the condition
on which the world will receive their actual full salvation in
the ages to come. We must bear in mind that the awakening
of men from death is only the beginning of their salvation.
Not until they have, under the discipline of the next age,
reached perfection, are they fully saved. Although we might
truly say men are saved when first awakened from death,
they are not “ saved to the uttermost” until brought to full
perfection of being. But none will be thus “ saved to the utter­
most” who do not accept of their release from death as the
direct result of the sacrifice of Christ. And realizing this,
they must repent of past sins and turn to God. Otherwise
they die the second death, from which there is no release.
Well, says our inquirer, this seems true and Scriptural,
but what advantage is to be gained by being reckoned saved
now? Would it not be as well to wait and give ourselves no
concern about it, but let God’s plan take its course? O no,
we answer, there is an advantage, a great advantage to be
gained by prompt faith and obedience as soon as we can gain
sufficient knowledge on which to base our faith and obedience.
The special privilege of those justified by faith (or reckoned
saved) during the gospel age, has been their right to present
themselves as acceptable sacrifices to God—joint-sacrifices
with Jesus Christ, and thereby to become joint-heirs with him
of all things. That privilege, we believe, began with the day
of Pentecost and ended in October, 1881.* While this special
privilege was not offered to any before or since that time, an­
other special privilege was granted to believers before this
age, and we see no reason why a similar privilege may not be
granted to believers since the gospel age ended.
Those justified by faith in past ages will have no need of
trial and discipline in the next age, for their judgment is
• It may be proper, to guard against misunderstanding, to say that
though all had s a crificed to the extent o f consecration at that time,
all have not yet completed the sacrifice and will not till actually dead.
t [See Vol. I l l , Scripture Studies, for later light on this point.]

[ 604]






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